A fundraiser launched Thursday for the crew member who remains hospitalized after the accident on set of the Amazon MGM Studios film “The Pickup” says the crew member is in the ICU with “extensive bodily injuries.”
A GoFundMe campaign launched by Sean Fisher identifies the injured crew member as Marvin Haven, a dolly grip who has worked in the industry for the past 26 years. His credits include “The Walking Dead,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “Red Notice.” At this writing, the campaign has raised over $30,000 of its $100,000 goal. (Haven’s name has not been released by the studio, IATSE, or OSHA, which is conducting an investigation into the accident.)
The posting detailed Haven’s injuries as including “broken ribs, multiple fractures in his neck and back, a shattered scapula, punctured lung, and a skull fracture which will require facial reconstructive surgery.” Initial reports in the AP described some of the injuries to other crew members as being limited to bruises and broken bones.
“We are so grateful and blessed that our beloved friend is still alive, but his road to recovery will undoubtedly be long, difficult, and faced with unimaginable challenges,” Fisher wrote on the GoFundMe. “Marvin needs your support now, more than ever, during this difficult time. Your donations, no matter how big or small, will make a world of difference to ease the financial strain to help Marvin and his wife Melissa, focus on the love, care, and mindset needed to heal on the long road of recovery that lies ahead of them.”
He continued: “To know Marvin, is to know that he loves his work as a Dolly Grip and has been perfecting his craft for over 26 years. It is heartbreaking to know that he may never get to go back and do what he loves.”
Fisher did not respond to IndieWire’s request for additional comment. A rep for Amazon MGM Studios had no additional comment beyond the statement released this week.
“On April 20, an accident occurred on the set of ‘The Pickup’ during a rehearsed second unit action sequence. Unfortunately, the sequence did not go as planned and several members of the crew were injured as a result,” a spokesperson for Amazon MGM Studios said in a statement Tuesday. “We are still in the process of gathering facts on what happened and why, but first and foremost our thoughts are with those who are recovering. The well-being of the entire crew and cast is our first priority, and we will continue to insist on the highest industry standards of safety while filming. All safety precautions were reviewed prior to and monitored during the shoot.”
The accident on the set of “The Pickup,” which stars Eddie Murphy, Keke Palmer, and Pete Davidson and is being directed by Tim Story, saw an SUV and an armored truck collide and veer off the road, with the truck rolling on top of the SUV and each completely flipping over before landing upright. A source close to the production previously told IndieWire the cars were supposed to collide as part of the action sequence in the film, but the stunt did not go as planned.
The New York Times on Wednesday obtained footage of the scary accident and reported that at least a half dozen people were inside the two vehicles and were taken to a hospital. It remains unclear if the accident was due to vehicle malfunction or human error.
The sequence was being filmed by the second unit team, which handles sequences not involving primary actors. Murphy, Palmer, and Davidson were not on set at the time of the accident.
Haven has worked in the camera and electrical department on films like “Avengers: Infinity War,” “The Tomorrow War,” “The Accountant,” “Red Notice,” and more.
